Biking for Youth Mental Health and DIFD on Friday

On Friday, September 25th, the Mental Health Association (MHAST) of the Southern Tier will be biking for Youth Mental Health and DIFD (Do it for Daron).

They'll start in Hartford, CT and end in Binghamton on Monday the 28th.

For those who may not know about DIFD, here's what it is. Binghamton Senators Head Coach, Luke Richardson's daughter, Daron lost her life to suicide.

Luke formed a non-profit group called, 'Do It For Daron' or D.I.F.D. Coach Richardson and his wife, Stephanie, have been on a mission to educate the community about mental health issues every since.

This journey is especially significant in that it'll begin at one of the psychiatric hospitals where Clifford Beers (founder of modern mental health treatment) was institutionalized.

The ride will draw attention to the importance of daily monitoring of our mental wellness, especially in our youth. It'll end with an event in collaboration with The Promise Zone in Binghamton.

In collaboration with the Promise Zone, MHAST will host Power to the Purple that will feature a performance by Marcel "Fable the Poet" Prince. Fable is a spoken word artist from Kalamazoo, Michigan.

He will be touring with the riders from the Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier on the DIFD Power to the Purple Youth Mental Health Awareness bike tour.

It runs (or is it bikes) from 3-5pm. at the Binghamton University Downtown Center, Room 220. It's located at 67 Washington St in Binghamton. It's free and open to students, middle school ages and up.

MHAST looks at this as an opportunity to educate other affiliates and communities on the importance of the DIFD movement and awareness to youth mental health.

Also for the 4th consecutive year the B-Sens will be hosting their Power to the Purple Night on Saturday, February 6, when they host the Rochester Americans. Purple was Daron's favorite color.

.